Faucet fountain



1951 B. BLUMBERG 2,994,481

FAUCET FOUNTAIN Filed March 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. BENJAMIN BL UMBERG Arro usv 1961 B. BLUMBERG 2,994,481

FAUCET FOUNTAIN Filed March 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BENJAMIN BLUMBERG BY F I 7 M W A TTORNEV Patented Aug. 1,, 1961 fiice 2,994,481 FAUCET FOUNTAIN Ben amin Blumberg, 1851 E. 26th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Mar. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 95,690 8 Claims. (Cl. 239-25) This invention relates to an improved liquid flow regulating device.

It has been found desirable to have available for use with a faucet spout a means for accomplishing aeration of water issuing therefrom so as provide a soft, bubbly liquid stream. It has also been found desirable to have available means for drinking the Water supplied to such a faucet spout. Thus, for example, following the use of an aerated stream of water as an aid in brushing the teeth or gargling, a mouth rinsing operation may be desired. In such situations, it has heretofore been customary to make provision for drinking glasses in the vicinity of such faucet spout in order to facilitate the cornbmation of the aforesaid operations; and in many instances, as for example, in hotel lavoratories, such pro- VlSlOIlS are often expensive and difiicult to maintain in a sanitary condition.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combination aerating means and fountain which may be easily installed upon a faucet spout.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which provides a convenient and sanitary supply of drinking water and which is easily maintained in a sanitary condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which may be easily adjusted to provide a convenient aerated stream of water or supply of drinking water, as desired.

The present invention provides for a regulation of the water flow therein by directing the flow of water either to one outlet or channel equipped with aerating means or to another outlet or channel equipped with water fountain means. In the past, it has been found that where foreign matter such as small particles of sediment or debris have been present in the water, or Where minerals or other chemicals have accompanied the water, such substances have tended to form deposits within water regulating and diverting means so as to interfere substantially with their operations and, in many instances, to render them entirely inoperative.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a water regulating device having means for eliminating and preventing the accumulation of such substances therein, thereby facilitating its operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved means for distributing a quantity of water supplied to an aerator so as to increase the efficiency of the aerator.

Conventional flow regulating equipment has often required precision made parts and has been subject to substantial leakage when such parts have undergone a comparatively slight amount of Wear.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a combination water aerating means and fountain which may be easily attached to a faucet spout and which does not require precision manufacture and is not subjected to substantial wear, and which effectively resists any substantial amount of leakage therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined means for supplying alternately an aerated stream of Water and a non-aerated supply of drinking water.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character last-indicated which is of inherently simple compact and strong construction, and which may be economically manufactured and marketed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flow regulating device which is adapted for use with Water outlet fixtures such as are commonly encountered outdoors, so as to provide alternately a supply of water for drinking purposes and a supply of water for introduction to outdoor water-employing equipment such as garden hose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description as read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view depicting one embodiment of the invention attached in operative position to a sill cock;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken about the line 55 of FIGURE 4 and showing a raised position of the cam and sleeve mechanism employed in said embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 5 but depicting said cam mechanism in a lowered position;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views depicting various positions of the cam and sleeve mechanism em ployed in said embodiments of the invention;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of said cam and sleeve mechanism taken about the line 11-11 of FIG- URE 9.

Similar numerals are employed to indicate similar parts throughout the various views.

The present invention may be employed with a great variety of water outlets such a are commonly encountered both indoors and outdoors. Thus, for example, as appears in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, one embodiment of the invention comprising a housing or body 21 and fountain, generally designated by the numeral 22, may be connected to a sill cock, generally designated by the numeral 23, as by a swivel means including a cylindrical nut 50b engaged with the inclined threaded outlet 24 of said sill cock 23, said cylindrical nut 50b being provided with a ball member 50 swivellably engaged with a cylindrical cover 50a threadedly secured to the body 21. When the invention is used for diversion of water to hose means, an externally threaded cylindrical adaptor preferably depends from the lower portion of the body 21 and is engaged with a coupling 81, said coupling 81 also being engaged with a hose 82 in the conventional manner.

When the invention is employed in this manner, it will be noted that the body 21 may be swivelled to the vertical position depicted in FIGURE 1, thereby permitting the fountain 22 to be disposed advantageously in a vertical position and at the same time permitting Water to be supplied to the hose 82, as desired, thereby allowing use of such hose for garden sprinkling purposes, for exam ple. It will therefore be seen that regardless of the inclination of the outlet 24 with respect to the axis of the sill cock 23, the fountain 22, as Well as the remainder of the invention, is available for operative use.

In lieu of the aforesaid swivel means, a nut 20 is preferably engaged with the body 21 when the invention is employed for connection with the conventional kitchen faucet spout; and in such use, aerating means is preferably secured to the body 21 in lieu of the adaptor 80, coupling 31 and hose 82, as is hereinafter more specifically set forth. Thus, as may be seen in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7,

the embodiment of the invention there depicted is adapted to indoor use, as by engaging the nut 20 with a threaded faucet spout 25.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 depict the general arrangement of said last-mentioned embodiment of the invention. Thus, as shown in these figures, said nut 20 is of hexagonal form and surmounts the body 21 which is of cylindrical conformation and provided with a boss 27. The boss 27 houses a laterally disposed packing nut 26 which receives a rotatable cam shaft 28 provided with a handle 29.

At an interval of 90 degrees, said body 21 also houses a radially extending tubular casing 30 which, in turn, is frictionally engaged with a barrel 31 disposed transversely of the axis of the casing 39, said barrel being seated upon the external periphery of the casing 30.

Aerating means, generally designated by the numeral 32, depend axially from the body 21, said aerating means being threadedly engaged with said body, as depicted at 33 in FIGURE 5, for example.

With this arrangement, a supply of water may be introduced into the body 21 and made available for drinking purposes by way of the fountain 22 or may issue axially of the body 21 as an aerated stream emerging from the aerating means 32, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

A number of important features of the present invention reside in its means for diverting the flow of said water to and from the fountain and the axially outlet of the body 21. These features can 'be best understood by reference to FIGURES through 11 of the drawings. Thus, as appears in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the threaded faucet spout 25 is engaged with the nut 24), the said faucet spout 25 abutting against a washer 34 seated upon a flange 35, the nut 20 and an annular lip 36 provided upon the upper face 38 of the body, the said lip 36 slidably abutting against and surmounting said flange 35, thereby retaining the flange 35 in rotatably slidable contact with the body 21.

The packing nut 26 is threadedly engaged with the body 21 and houses the cam shaft 28, which is provided with an eccentric pin 39 formed upon a circular plate 40, said circular plate 40 being formed integrally with a circular flange 41. A packing ring 42 is disposed between the packing nut 26 and the flange 41 so as to prevent leakage from the interior of the body 21.

An annular shoulder 43 supports the flange 41; and the eccentric pin 39 is slidably engaged with an elongated aperture 44, which is preferably of elliptical form, provided in a sleeve 45, as may be particularly well seen in FIGURE 7. When the cam shaft 28 is rotated by means of the handle 29, the eccentric pin 39 is reciprocated between extreme positions such as the raised position, depicted in FIGURES 5 and 7, and the lowered position depicted in FIGURE 6, thereby slidably reciprocating the sleeve 45 to correspondingly raised and lowered positions in a circular axial aperture 46 provided in the body 21.

The body 21 is provided with a radial aperture 48 which communicates with the interior of the casing 30, one end of said casing being disposed in abutment with a shoulder 49 provided in said radial aperture 48.

When the sleeve 45 is in its raised position, corresponding to the raised position of the eccentric pin 39, as depicted in FIGURES 5 and 7, a circular aperture 51 provided in the sleeve 45 is aligned with the radial aperture 48. At the same time, a plurality of slots 52 provided at the lower portion of the sleeve 45 communicate with the periphery of the axial aperture 46. The bottom of the sleeve 45 is closed, as by a transverse element such as a blind flange 53. When the sleeve 45 is in the raised position depicted in FIGURES 5 and 7, the blind flange 53 is disposed in slidable contact with the periphery of the axial aperture 46, thereby preventing leakage downwardly from said axial aperture 46.

Thus, in this raised position, when a supply of water issues from the faucet spout 25 into the sleeve 45, the Water will flow through the aperture 48 into the casing 30 and thence through a vertical aperture 54 formed in said casing 30 into the barrel 31 of the fountain 22 so as to communicate With an inclined mouth 55 provided in the head 56 of said fountain 22. Hence, it will be seen that in this raised position, the said fountain 22 is avail able for drinking purposes.

The flow of water through the casing 30 and into the barrel 31 may be varied by means of a needle valve comprising a slotted head 58 threadedly engaged with the internal periphery of the casing 30, said needle valve also comprising a shank -59 connecting saidslotted head to a conical face 60 contactable with a shoulder 61 provided upon said internal periphery of the casing 30. The conical face 60 may be adjusted laterally of the shoulder 61 by rotating the slotted head 58, as by means of a screwdriver, for example, thereby determining the quantity of water which may flow through the casing 30 into the barrel 31. A screen 62 may also be disposed within the barrel 31 so as to filter out any foreign particles which may be present in the Water made available at the head 31 of the fountain. For ease in drinking, the aperture 55 in said fountain head 56 is inclined, thereby advantageously determining an inclined stream of water available from said head 56.

The head 56 is provided with an elongated shank 63 which is frictionally engaged With the internal periphery of the barrel 31, thereby preventing leakage therefrom.

When the camshaft '28 is rotated by means of the handle 29 so as to dispose the eccentric pin 39 in the lowered position depicted in FIGURE 6, the aperture 51 is withdrawn from alignment with the aperture 48 and communicates with the periphery of the aperture 46, thereby obstructing the flow of water from said sleeve 45 to the casing 40. Hence, upon this disposition of the camshaft 28, the water supplied to the sleeve 45 is no longer available from. the fountain for drinking purposes.

Instead, the lowered position of the sleeve 45 disposes its slots 52 within the mouth 65 of the body 21, thereby directing the water from the sleeve 45 into the aerating means comprising a perforated plate 66 supported upon an annular shoulder 67 formed in a hollow apron 68. Said apron 68 is also supported upon an annular shoulder 69 formed upon an outer shell 70 provided with a plurality of air slots 71 and an axial outlet aperture 72. A bafile 73 depends from the perforated plate 66; and a circular screen 74 is supported upon a shoulder 75 formed within the shell 70 at the inner end of the outlet 72.

With this arrangement, the water issuing from the slots 52 passes through the perforated plate 66 in the form of a plurality of fine streams which impinge upon the baffle 73, thereby being broken up into numerous droplets of liquid which are mixed with air drawn through the slots 71. In this way, the resultant stream of water becomes characterized by a plurality of air bubbles which impart to said stream a soft, foamy texture, the stream issuing through the screen 74 and outlet 72.

An important aspect of the invention resides in the rotational motion of the sleeve 45 during its vertical movement from the above-described raised and lowered positions depicted in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. As may be seen in FIGURES 8 through 11, both the aperture 51 and the slots 52 of said sleeve 45 undergo a rotational movement during said vertical movement of the sleeve 45. Thus, the position of the aperture 51 and slots 52 when the sleeve 45 is in its raised position is depicted in FIGURE 8. FIGURE 9 depicts a position of the sleeve intermediate of said raised and lowered positions, wherein the aperture 51 and slots 52 have been rotated laterally with respect to the position they occupied when in said raised position. FIGURE 10 depicts the position of said aperture. 51 and slots 52 after they have been rotated in a reverse direction laterally of the position which they occupied when the sleeve 45 was in said intermediate position.

This rotational movement occurs continuously during the vertical movement of the sleeve 45 and directs the water from the interior of the sleeve into communication with all portions of the upper face of the perforated plate 66 and the periphery of the mouth 65, as well as with a washer 83, disposed between the apron 68 and the lower portion of the body 21, and the internal periphery of said apron 68. Hence, such flow accomplishes a thorough flushing of these members, thereby washing away any sedimentation which may have accumulated thereon and preventing clogging of the said perforated plate 66 and other portions of the aerating means which might otherwise occur. The portions of the periphery of the axial aperture 46 which communicate with said slots 52 are also flushed clean by the water introduced through said slots 52 during said rotational movement.

The aperture 51 is also disposed by said rotational movement through a greater distance from the aperture 48 than would be the case if the movement of the sleeve 45 were solely vertical. Such displacement results in a more effective and immediate throttling of any leakage of water from the sleeve 45 to the aperture 48 when the sleeve 45 is reciprocated from its raised to its said lowered position. The positions of the aperture 48 with respect to the aperture 51 in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are depicted in broken lines to facilitate visualization of the relative displacement of the said apertures '48, 51 in the positions depicted in said figures.

It will be noted that the aforesaid rotational movement is a substantial one and that it is permitted by reason of the elongation of the elliptical aperture 44 which permits the eccentric pin 39 to move through a 360 degree revolution while rotating the sleeve 45, said pin projecting substantially from said aperture during said rotation. Such a great amount of rotation would be diflicult to accomplish it the aperture in the sleeve 45 were merely circular since the periphery of such aperture would interfere with the movement of the eccentric pin 39 and thereby limit rotation; or in the case of an enlarged circular aperture, it would be difficult for the eccentric pin to maintain contact therewith so as to accomplish a smooth continuous rotation of the sleeve 45 during said vertical movement.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects advantageously and permits of a compact construction which is adapted to conventional and economic methods of manufacture. Moreover, due to the above-described flushing action, the device is inherently sanitary and hence, requires little or no maintenance.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated and described hereinabove have been selected for the purpose of clearly setting forth the principles involved. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention is susceptible to being modified in respect to details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. An improved liquid flow regulating device comprising, in combination: a housing; means for introducing a supply of water into said housing; a sleeve disposed axially within said housing and communicable with said water; the said sleeve being engaged with cam means received within said housing; said sleeve being provided with a transverse aperture; said sleeve being vertically adjustable by said cam means to bring said transverse aperture into alignment with an aperture provided in said housing, whereby said water communicates with radially disposed fountain means received in said aperture provided in said housing; said sleeve also being vertically adjustable by said cam means to bring said transverse apertyre into ssnmunieati n with the internal periphery at 6. said housing, whereby the said transverse aperture is closed; said last-mentioned vertical adjustment also disposing a slotted portion of said sleeve into communication with a mouth provided in the housing, thereby discharging the said water through said mouth.

2. A device according to claim 1, the said cam means rotating the said sleeve during its movement from said first-mentioned to said last-mentioned vertical adjustment, whereby said slotted portion of the sleeve is rotated when brought into communication with the said mouth.

3. A device according to claim 1, the said cam means including an eccentric pin provided upon a rotatable shaft; the said eccentric pin being received in an elliptical aperture provided in said sleeve.

4. A device according to claim 1, the lower portion of said sleeve being provided with a closure element; the said slotted portion of the sleeve being disposed adjacent to said closure element.

5. A device according to claim 1, the said fountain means including a radially disposed casing and an upright barrel seated upon the external periphery of said casing; the said casing being provided with an aperture communicating with the interior of said barrel; the said casing being provided with adjustable valve means, whereby the supply of water communicating with said barrel is varied; the said barrel being provided with a head member characterized by an inclined aperture; the said barrel also being provided with screen means disposed intermediately of said head member and said aperture in said casing communicating with the interior of said barrel.

6. A device according to claim 1, the upper portion of said housing being provided with swivel means engageable with an inclined water supply outlet, the said fountain means being disposable in vertical position upon adjustment of said swivel means; the lower portion of said housing being engaged with hose means communicating with the mouth of said housing.

7. A device according to claim 1, the upper portion of said housing being provided with an annular lip engaged with an annular flange provided upon a nut; the said annular flange being a rotatable contact with said annular lip and threadedly engageable with a faucet spout; the lower portion of said housing being threadedly engaged with aerating means including a cylindrical shell, an apron supported within said cylindrical shell, a perforated plate supported within said apron, and a baflie depending from said perforated plate; the water issuing from said mouth communicating with said perforated plate and impinging upon said baflle to mix with air drawn through a slotted portion of said cylindrical shell; the said water being discharged axially through a screened aperture provided in said cylindrical shell.

8. An improved liquid flow regulating device comprising, in combination: a housing; means for introducing a supply of water into said housing; a sleeve disposed axially within a circular aperture provided in said housing and communicable with said water; the lower portion of said sleeve being provided with a blind flange and a plurality of slots disposed adjacent to said blind flange; said sleeve being vertically reciprocable by cam means received within said housing; said cam means including an eccentric pin provided upon a circular plate rotatably contactable with said housing; said circular plate being provided with a rotatable shaft projecting externally of said housing and engaged with packing means disposed within the housing; the said eccentric pin being received within an elliptical aperture formed in said sleeve; the said sleeve being reciprocable to a first position wherein a transverse aperture formed in said sleeve is aligned with an aperture provided in said housing, whereby said water communicates with radially disposed fountain means received in said aperture provided in said housing; the said sleeve also being reciprocable to a second position wherein said transverse aperture communicates with 7 s the periphery of said circular aperture, thereby closing References Cited in the file of this patent said transverse aperture; the said slots being disposed into UNITED STATES PATENTS communication with an axially disposed outlet provided at the lower portion of said housing, thereby discharging 1,027,474 Hamlick May 1912 the said water through said outlet; the said pin rotating 5 1044648 Hamnck 19, 1 the said slots during the movement of said sleeve from 1,175,137 Douceue et a1 1916 said first to said second position. 2,747,930 Hyde May 29, 1956 

